Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has been awarded an AUD 188 million (about EUR 125 million) contract by the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The company will provide and support modernization of communication systems of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) eight ANZAC-Class frigates, as part of the SEA1442 Phase 4 programme. The first upgraded ship is planned to enter service in 2018.

All support services necessary to sustain this new capability are to be delivered through Selex ES Australia Pty, based in Melbourne. The company has been established to play a leading role in the delivery and support of the programme and will be the focal point for the transfer of skills and experience to Australian industry.

Under project SEA 1442 Phase 4, the Australian Industry Capability elements will complement the important work undertaken by Finmeccanica to identify potential competitive opportunities for Australian small and medium enterprises under the Australian Government Global Supply Chain programme, where Finmeccanica entered in 2012.

Looking forward, the capability upgrade will lay the foundation of a maritime architecture critical to future RAN tactical communications. It will also contribute towards the Australian Defence Force’s network-centric warfare concept in the maritime environment, helping reach the goal of a networked RAN.